Copa Libertadores soccer match halted after just 3 minutes when fans protest with flares

TL;DR

A Copa Libertadores match between Independiente Medellín and Flamengo was suspended after just three minutes due to fan protests involving flares and objects thrown onto the pitch. The match was later officially called off, resulting in a 3-0 win for Flamengo.

Key points

Match suspended after three minutes due to fan protests
Flares and objects were thrown onto the pitch
CONMEBOL awarded Flamengo a 3-0 victory
Protests were against Independiente Medellín's management
Flamengo leads Group A with seven points

Mentioned in this story

Atanasio Girardot StadiumJesús ValenzuelaCONMEBOL

Independiente MedellínFlamengoCopa Libertadores

BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — A Copa Libertadores soccer match between Colombia's Independiente Medellín and Flamengo of Brazil was suspended after just three minutes Thursday and later called off when fans of the Colombian team began lighting flares and throwing objects on to the pitch. The incident at the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín was apparently organized as a protest against the local club’s management following poor results in the Colombian league, where Independiente Medellín was eliminated after finishing in 11th place. Just minutes after the launching of flares and other objects began, referee Jesús Valenzuela ordered the players on both teams to go to their locker rooms while security forces intervened in the stadium. The match was scoreless at the time of the suspension. More than an hour later, CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, officially called off the match, which was part of the fourth round of Group A. The CONMEBOL Disciplinary Code states that when a team is deemed responsible for the suspension, cancellation or abandonment of a match, the game will be awarded to the non-offending team, handing Flamengo a 3-0 win. During the stoppage, Flamengo player Jorginho posted a message on his X account saying: “We’re fine and waiting here,” along with a photo inside the locker room with his teammates Everton Cebolinha, Ayrton Lucas, Luiz Araújo, Leo Ortiz, and Leo Pereira. Flamengo, the current Copa Libertadores champion, leads Group A with seven points, one more than Estudiantes de La Plata. Medellín is third with four points. \\_ AP soccer:

Q&A

Why was the Copa Libertadores match between Independiente Medellín and Flamengo suspended?

The match was suspended due to fan protests where flares were lit and objects were thrown onto the pitch.

What were the consequences of the match being called off?

The match was awarded to Flamengo with a 3-0 victory as per the CONMEBOL Disciplinary Code.

What prompted the fan protests during the match?

The protests were organized against Independiente Medellín's management following the team's poor performance in the Colombian league.

Copa Libertadores soccer match halted after just 3 minutes when fans protest with flares

TL;DR

Key points

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